League President Rich Garbarino Joins San Francisco Public Utilities Commission at Event to Urge More Federal Investment in Critical Infrastructure

January 24, 2018

League President and South San Francisco Council Member Rich Garbarino represented the League and National League of Cities on Jan. 24 at a press conference with the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC) to call on Congress to make greater infrastructure investments.

Held at San Francisco’s Southeast Treatment Plant, the event featured representatives from the League, the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission and labor groups.

As Congress begins to prioritize new infrastructure legislation, the SFPUC and NLC are actively working with the Water Agency Leaders Alliance, a group of executives from public water and wastewater utilities across the country, to push for bipartisan bills that build major infrastructure projects, create good paying jobs and fund workforce training.

President Garbarino spoke about the League’s efforts to get the Legislature to pass new transportation funding, which will now provide California cities and counties an additional $1.5 billion annually for local streets and roads. In addition, he touched on the League’s support for the upcoming Parks and Water Bond on the June 2018 ballot. This $4 billion bond will bring critical resources to every city for our parks and water infrastructure.

“Investments in infrastructure have long been a major priority for our members because the quality of life in our communities and the economy depend on good streets and roads, water and sewer facilities like this one,” said President Garbarino.

The message President Garbarino delivered in San Francisco was clear. “From bridges to broadband, we have a simple message to Congress: rebuild with us.”

Benicia Mayor Elizabeth Patterson joined President Garbarino at the press conference.

Other speakers at the Jan. 24 press conference included:

Derek Williams, construction worker;

SFPUC Commissioner Vince Courtney Jr., recording secretary and political captain, Laborers’ International Union of North America Local 261; and